Abercrombie & Fitch - lacking in a few people skills

We’re not experts in anything, but when it comes to identifying brands that are a complete and utter disgrace, we’re pretty sure that it’s fair to slap that particular label on Abercrombie & Fitch.

The American-founded clothing merchants are racking up a decidedly unimpressive list of gaffes, the latest coming after an US court ruled against them after one of their store staff refused to allow an autistic girl’s sister to enter a changing room and help her try on clothes.

This follows a recent employment tribunal in the UK which found in favour of an A&F member of staff with a prosthetic arm who was told to work away from the shop floor as she didn’t fit in with the company’s ‘look policy,’ which is said to cover anything from the length of women's fingernails to what hairstyles and colours of nail polish they wear.

In 2004, Abercrombie & Fitch were in the dock for discriminating against non-white members of staff, and found to be predominantly allocating night shifts to their staff who belonged to ethnic minorities. Mind you, this is a company who once sold a T-shirt that was replete with the slogan "Wong Brothers Laundry Service—Two Wongs Can Make It White" with smiling Chinese-looking figures in conical straw hats.

But they mean well – last year, in Columbus, Ohio, Abercrombie & Fitch donated $10 million to the Nationwide Children’s Hospital in exchange for the ER room to be renamed the Abercrombie & Fitch Emergency Department and Trauma Center. Luckily, a protest group scuppered the plans, pointing out the company’s “appalling history of targeting children with sexualised marketing and clothing.”

31 comments

Bill O.

stopping a $10 million donation to a childrens hospital because of objectionable marketing? isnt that like cutting off your nose to spite your face? Im not saying abercrombie & fitch are saints but come on, some people are too sensitive. After all, theres obviously plenty of people who dont care, given the success A&F are enjoying.

There recent adverts for the new store in the Trafford Centre was asking for gorgeous people only... I mean at the end of the day you dont have to have it on the Posters, the Retail manager is going to make his mind up whether he likes you or not, and anyone applying for a job paying a retail salary isn't going to be interested in pursuing the reason why he or she didnt get the Job, I mean its not like you want to work there for the passion of the brand, you want to work there because they do great clothes and you get huge discount along with a Handsome clothing allowance...

You've got to laugh though, I took my neice to the store in Regents Street, try holding a conversation with the staff, fuckwits of the highest order, anyone who can't see through the marketing veneer is frankly, not very bright at all (and yes that includes my neice who is particularly thick).

BTW good article Andy, I think most of the comments are tongue in cheek if not, the seriously need to rethink how they look at society as people with disabilities have it hard enough as it is without people deciding that making it worse for them is so much more fun!

I quite like A & F. Their clothing works like a screaming beacon saying "I'm a cunt, a soulless fashion victim who has the intellectual capacity of a gnat" - Saves me the hassle of having to speak to them and ruining my day.